The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-04-13
WHOLE NO. 1865.
From the Stage to the Pulpit.


Frank 4. Lucky, an ex-actor, who re-
Gently abandoned the stage % study for
the ministry, and Is now "a member Of
the Yale theological school told the story
+ of his life to an interesting audience At
+ rhe city mansion on Meadow street
In the early wears Of nay life said
the speaker. The idea that I would ike
To- enter the dramatic profession was
ever present 70 my mind. II was nav
( one great ambition % oe an actor. Nv
idea Of the stage was a high one
thought would restore the broken
image, restore the stage t1 IFS LOFTY
place. and all did wa- shaped 90 thai,
end. went 10 g university o. -iucate
myself and al NV studies were followed
up with tins o6iect In view. graduate
from the university in lSSa. and 10 the
h.l went upon the stage, playing az the
tIand 0per, Mouse 10 Neu YORK.
After time IL began 20 grow on me that
the surrounding Influences were oper-
s.tiu. ON me and were gradually prevent
ing m-. and this feeling continued ts
grow on me- began to feel ID dislike
J did't enjoy the life as [ had expected
to. was brought Gp in "a very nor-ai
family atmosphere, and was never con-
taminstaj t. e great extent pv evil iutiu-
enees OF the stage @, not intend -l
discuss the morals of the stage here as
have not time. nor could DO them
Justice Bu, they ar rotten. No man
can 90 on the stage and be pure. 7 am
not going % deep into this thing now,
blt it i- d fact. You cannot lead a con-
-l--ent Christian life and be a member Of
the iramatie profession could feel the
perver,ing influence, IF this life ,rldu-
al,y jn-inuatin. themselves into me.
even got 50 that didn't mind go.u. into
barrooms. llr actors spend mos Of their
time iu -arrp0m~
did not leave tla stage because I
was failure. No, put all my soul into
mv stage work. lis would into the min
istrv OF into anything Z undertake. and
r7-= step by step I'm my profession
until became stage manager .f one Of
the ues5 companies In tae country. Br
this Is how came TO give 10 up. one
night while I wa, playing iu the Union
Square Theatre I went home % bed
was in good health, and there was Moth
ing the matter 50 tn my digestion. Well.
( went Co sleep and slept ~ouudlv Bur
In the middle Of the night was rvukeu-
ed the voice of God saying % m-- IF
YOU should die tonight what wou'i le-
come Of your SouIe~ answered. Lost.
and then went 20 sleep again. IT WAS
no dream. though YOU. if YOU were there.
might not have heard the voice / heard
iJ and knew il was tine voice of God.
sdt up in bed. and / know that / was
awake, This voice kept coming To me
LAY after day. and night after night. until
/ couldn't get away from It, II pursued
me like q Nemesis. ami had o. find an
answer Finally I sIid to myself that by
the grace Of God. after I come back with
the company. / viii never set my foot on
-he stage again. WAS poor man. I
hld not saved any money. Actors are
great spandthrIft-. but jt Is the wrong
kind Of charity. Tt Is that that gives
without sense or discrimination.
Eut z knew the Lord would take care
of ne And the next week had Is let
Ter from home. telling how friend Of mv
fathers. inquirins about me and hearing
chat I. ike other actors. would uol be-
busy during the summer. offered me
place at Naat~zet Beach While there
] mad hu. little % 30 bat COMMUNE with
God. and th,- communion shaped NV
'ite. Then ] wrote 20 President Dwight.
and. a- fortunately had a COLLEGIATE ai-
ugarlel While --la.iiu. among ms
paper. tAe other day I found an old
pruelozicil chart. do not believe
altogether in pureuoio-y, although there
Is much IN it / think worthy 0f atten-
tieu. When Z gsl- rs years old had mv
heai extmed, and the phreuoiog-t said
% me. Your place l. IN the Ministry.
Az that time had no thought of minis
tv INV whole ambition tended toward
the stage. Vow. isn't flat q curious
coincidence, ifitiS coinc.d-nc That
Is my story I told it only for the lesson
that can be taken from it.
In forming my plans didn't take